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İstanbul Anatolia 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance released Hanife Şahan, İleri Newspaper’s Editor in Chief who was put on trial for allegedly insulting the Present Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on her column titled “Mad Sultan in an Illegal Palace”.

Marjanne de Haan, Holland Branch Representative ofAmnesty International and Ruhat Sena Akşener, Campaigns and Advocacy Director of Amnesty International Turkey attended the trial.

Akşener told bianet:

Akşener: Article 299 is against the international conventions

“This case is one of the article 299 cases. We think that article 299 is against the international conventions and violates article 10 of European Convention on Human Rights (echr). That’s why, we demand dismissal of these cases and article 299 to be omitted from the constitution.

Acquittal after the definition of the word ‘mad’

The court stated the word ‘mad’ meant someone who has unbalanced behaviors, a deranged person in the website of Turkish Language Association (TDK).

However, the accusation included the statement “Even though it has been understood that Hanife Şahan criticized the cost of presidential palace by saying ‘Mad Sultan in an Illegal Palace’, it’s realized that Şahan insulted the President.

Barış İnce and Ender İmrek also are on trial

Hanife Şahan was on trial for a year and 4 months to 4 years and 8 months in prison. The court gave a verdict that there wasn’t element of crime.

BirGün Daily Newspaper’s editor in Chief, Barış İnce and Evrensel Daily’s journalist Ender İmrek also are on trial for allegedly insulting the President Erdoğan according to the article 299 of the constitution. (EÖ/BD)

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